ARTIFICIAL BAITS. 23 



CHAPTER III. 



ARTIFICIAL BAITS CASE FOR SPINNING TACKLE, 

 ETC. FISH BAG LANDING NET AND GAFF 

 HOOK. 



WE next come to artificial baits, of which 

 there are a great variety. On this subject 

 there has been a great deal said both pro and 

 con, the majority of writers going against 

 them principally because they never caught 

 anything with them ; they say that they are 

 not so good as the natural bait that they 

 soon wear out that they won't spin and that 

 it is derogatory to the character of a sports- 

 man to use them. The first objection I believe 

 arises through their never having fished with 

 them, through want of faith, for the angler 

 should bear in mind that, though patience is a 

 virtue, faith must be added. As regards not 

 being so good as the real bait, I can only say 

 from my own experience that I have taken fish 

 with them when I could not tempt them with 

 the natural bait. The objection on the ground 

 of not spinning is more correct, as regards 

 some of the pseudo spinning-baits ; those, 

 however, having the pectoral fins may be 

 relied on as being good spinners, always 

 provided the fins are large enough for the 

 purpose, without being too large, as I have 

 sometimes seen the fins cut so small, through 



